Paper AND Plastic

[airdave]

Have you mixed the two?

Many of us have incorporated plastic into our paper models.
Clear canopies are an example of that.
I've seen builders use plastic wheels on aircraft.

But what about incorporating paper into plastic builds?

I came across this great old Revell kit with card parts.
I've seen other plastic models that had cardboard backdrops, but never seen this diorama kit.





I'm currently building a large scale (1/12) plastic race car.
And I've already used paper in the interior.
I've redesigned the Instrument gauges...very small!...and installed into the dash.
I also printed the fuse panel and put it behind a small piece of clear plastic.
Oh, and the lower dash plates with all the switches on them.



And, I didn't like some of the parts in the cockpit tub.
I designed and printed the textured aluminum cover for the center hump/divider.
I also changed the side rail covers that hide wiring.
On the real car, they were a painted blue metal box cover.
Whereas in the kit, they offer flat chrome parts that just didnt look right.



I'm sure I will use a lot more paper and cardstock parts.
I am planning a diorama base for this model, and it will use a lot of cardstock parts.

So, what paper add-ons have you put into a plastic kit?

[Thumb Dog]

Hi All,

And hi, airdave. Your plastic Spitfire/Bf 109 and cardstock revetment diorama was a good find. While I’ve never built such a model, I am familiar with the plastic/paper diorama concept as it was often used by model companies to make promotional dioramas for display in hobby stores.

Back in August last year, I posted a thread titled, Hobby Store Displays that ran in the, Paper Models in the Wild subforum. The thread can be found here:

Hobby Store Displays

The thread directs the reader to a YouTube video that shows a large collection of built-up plastic models and over ten minutes of cardstock and plastic dioramas. It can be found here:

https://www.papermodelers.com/forum/...%3DRtZ9wA-Lhcw

So that you don’t have to slog through all the well-built plastic models, the section of interest to paper modelers starts at 1:06:40 and ends at 1:17:13.

I’ve used plastic in a few of my paper models, but I think using plastic wheels on aircraft models is a bit much. Well, to each his own…

By the way, work well-done on your 1/12 racecar, too.

Score and fold,

Thumb Dog

[Siwi]

Seems like a convenient way to scratchbuild extra details and mods. My main consideration would be that paper could provide a great method for creating realistic canopy framing, avoiding the need to purchase painting masks and avoiding the raised lines seen on older kits. You could sand those off, polish any scratches away and then stick paper to the clear both inside and out that would look like metal strips.

[BigGiraffe]

Hello!

Last year I made a plastic model of the Cutty Sark sailing ship. The kit did not include the lowest of three sails that go between the foreward mast and the main mast. I didn't like the "hole" it left, so I made a sail from paper.

Best regards,
Kurt

[outersketcher]

I use paper all the time...

Strips of paper make GREAT tire treads on aircraft wheels. Or as hold down straps. Place little drops of glue along those straps and you've got little simulated bands of riveted steel.

Those simple, cheap paper napkins you get from your local Hamburger joint are good resources. Roll one of those up, tie it with some string, then soak it with diluted white glue. Let dry and paint. Tada! you have a realistic bed roll.

Those same glue soaked pieces of napkin can be shaped to simulate canvas tarps and sails.

Mush up some of your scrap paper with glue and water. You can shape it like playdough. Let the water evaporate out. Then paint. Great for dirt and rocks in diorama scenes.

I think some people shy away from paper as a modeling material because they fear damage from moisture. But once paper has been painted. It will last as long as any plastic model will.

[FRD]

Great find!...